Aedelric

I just look at the stretch goals "Mobile support" That alone proves it is definitely not going to be my kind of rpg, think I will stick with Project Eternity. Good luck to them though.

When I think of a bard I think of the Silmarillion, people who sing words of power and battle each other through voice. Would be good to have it revolve more around the power of words and voice (odd for a game with no voice acting I grant you) rather than being able to play specific songs on a harp.

No, because it was present during late medieval Europe, primitive firearms. But you did not need me to explain that to you surely? Also, not much to do with monks, is it? Edit - Not worth making a long series of replies; "The games setting is obviously high fantasy European inspired culture, that much is obvious due to place names seen on the map. The map is not overly large and could not contain the vast array of cultures required to have an area where kung-fu monks could come from. One could say they travelled across the world, but travelling the oceans is neigh on impossible due to sea monsters. That is not to say no one from far off civilizations could not arrive for a visit, but enough to fill a party is unlikely if at all." As you can see in my quote from above I say it could happen, same could be applied for guns. But large quantity of specifically kung-fu master monks to populate the land, no, if at all.

I like Paladin and I like Bards, thery both fit nicely into the setting. We do not need a paladin class exactly, but it could be an evolution of the fighter, after all he just needs a god to fight for and access to the spiritual side of his soul for enchantments. A Bard would have to be a class, it is quite specific and the others do not come close to it, using his soul to empower his songs granting courage to others or weaken the enemies morale. One could say it it could be an evolution of a rogue, but it does not fit well, I say a new class for it. People love paladins and bards, if we do not get a stretch goal, perhaps they can be in an expansion pack. :D

I read a lot of comments arguing for kung-fu monks and they always start with how they "do not get" or "do not understand" or "do not know why" some people are not for them, if they read those peoples comments as to why they are not liked, then surely you would understand. No? The games setting is obviously high fantasy European inspired culture, that much is obvious due to place names seen on the map. The map is not overly large and could not contain the vast array of cultures required to have an area where kung-fu monks could come from. One could say they travelled across the world, but travelling the oceans is neigh on impossible due to sea monsters. That is not to say no one from far off civilizations could not arrive for a visit, but enough to fill a party is unlikely if at all. The clash of European high fantasy and Asian cultures does not mix naturally. Knights that wear plate waving swords, mage's hurling fireballs and soldiers/rangers shooting guns/bows respectively. Then we have a character in the mix throwing punches at people with steel plate, this undermines the other characters by the lack of need for weapons, why use a sword when a fist can punch through the hardest steel? They are almost always semi-naked which is ridiculous, even the lightly armoured mage uses arcane protection. One can state that he uses a divine sort of protection, well fine but so do clerics and priests, but they are still sensible to at least wear tunics or chain mail. Again the classic kung-fu monk undermines the other traditional archetypes. Monks are in, so their is no changing that, but how to we avoid the out of place kung-fu stereotype? Well, their have been many interesting suggestions so far, from Hospitilars, to Flagellants to inquisitors. I mixture of these would provide an interesting cultural twist to the monk that is not Asian, still close combat centric and does not demean the other classes by not requiring armour or weapons. The monk could wear European clergy clothing, with chain under. Uses the spiritual side of his soul to invoke some serious inquisitor type banishments or damage, in melee he could use his zealous and suicidal wrath swinging a flail or from the distance use a crossbow in the style of a witch hunter. So long as the topic does not continue to degrade into petty spite for and against, perhaps we can come up with some more interesting alternatives to the overused archetype.

Nice picture you chose, they are a much better are more original type of monk that does not seem so extremely out of place.

If it affected dialogue choices, then I am for it!

I am not keen of varying colour text, it is a bit irritating. I would be fine for an option in the games settings to select NPC text colours though, then everyone would be happy.

Or, you are not good at explaining.

I do not believe it was to sound edgy, just show that it was unique. Surely we can all agree that Planescape is not your typical high fantasy game. Personally I do not mind what anyone calls it, not sure why it bothers you so much.

You are mixing up what he meant, the killing gods was a secondary idea he had separate to the atheist idea.

Some inquisitor attributes seems like a nice idea Wintersong.

High fantasy is no insult, I like high fantasy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planescape:_Torment "In 1997, the game's designers produced a 47-page document that outlined the game's premise and vision statement, and was used to pitch the idea to management at Interplay. Initially, the game was to be called Last Rites, and they described the game as "avant-garde" fantasy to distinguish it from high fantasy. The document also contained concept artwork for characters and areas of the game."

Well, if it was not indicated that then your suggestion was effectively to include the stereotype Asian kung-fu monk, with more weapons. That does not really change anything. Diablo monks are one of the big stereotypes Monte Carlo, that is what I would like to avoid. You should read the other posts, their have been better alternatives since my original ill thought out post that do not depend on a kind of paladin class.

So, your suggestion is remove the religious angle? Then why call them monks at all?

Deity's rarely ever help high fantasy and more often than no they are actually bad news. I am for a group out to murder them and release their soul energy, especially seems Eternity Gods can not be trusted!

I enjoyed Jade Empire, the setting worked, martial arts and all the Asian aspects fitted in the right place. Their was not conflicting culture clash in that game and if they ever make a squeal I would play that too, if it was not for the fact I no longer trust Bioware. We have seen the map that will be used, their is no way such a small area could accommodate such a diverse arey of cultures. One could say people travel in this world, but according to lore it is neigh on impossible to travel the high seas. Monks are in and their is no changing that, but no one says monks have to be Asian kung-fu masters. I suggest that the kind of monk one finds in the game world should be highly dependant on the landmass used, just like in the real world. Keep the martial arts masters, but only in settings where it makes sense. Not the high fantasy Celtic inspired region of Eir Glanfath. An Eir Glanfath monk could be vastly different, yet still religious and tapping into the spiritual side of their soul. Perhaps they could wear more European style clergy robes opposed to shaolin style, carry flails instead of staves and crossbows instead of.. whatever kung-fu monks use for ranged combat.

You would be foolish to go into this expecting a new Planescape game Rasmudd, Project Eternity has been marketed as a High Fantasy game, not an "avant-garde fantasy". Expect more traditional elements in this, but being Obsidian you will no doubt get some twists from the norm also.

You are right Nkkkk, each culture in the world has its own form of close combat fighting, but that still does not addess the fist vs gun dilemma better. You are also right Nerd, perhaps we will have a philosophical justification that fits the story, Obsidian are good writers I am sure they could do it. Though I would prefer they just drop the flawed stereotyped monk concept entirely and approach it from a completely new and original angle.

Josh Sawyer indicated mages could wear plate and wield a sword, so it seems that way to me. Arcane warrior, found my class. :D

It is a nice concept, I like it. I am interested in what they will look like, for some reason I am getting a bald evil vibe from it all.

Indeed it will. Logic is what changed Cadegund's breast plate, so thinking logically is important to the team. As for changing Obsidians minds, this topic is not to force that, just to point out some alternatives and opinions of various people on the subject. Edit - sorry about the double post.

Cipher's I am fine with, nice concept. If you could run and hit at supernatural speeds, why would you not wear leather or at the least a padded tunic? For that matter why not charge your dagger with spiritual energy and not your fists? The kung-fu monk is a flawed concept that demeans the other classes by proving they do not need a bow or gun or sword or plate or a spell book.

If he has a dagger LadyCrimson, surely it would make more sense to channel said energy into that? It think it would do more damage to someone's head than a fist.

So long as they have roof tiles to fight and everyone else uses iron bars, then they should be safe. I have seen the same documentaries, they are quite some feats of endurance, but they are all in the confines of strictly monitored surroundings. In combat they use weapons like spears and things. So basically I am still not convinced about kung-fu monks. Edit - I liked the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles when I was growing up. :D I am not obsessed about them, unless you mean obsessively dislike them.